Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly and ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability

ABSTRACT

An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability and an ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability that are both capable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation and using ionized gas for cutting and coagulation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional patent applicationhaving Ser. No. 62/362,873, filed Jul. 15, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed to an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly having argon beam capability and anultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability. Both arecapable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting andcoagulation and both are capable of using an ionized gas for cutting andcoagulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electrosurgery uses an RF electrosurgical generator (also known as anelectrosurgical unit or ESU) and a handpiece with an electrode toprovide high frequency, alternating radio frequency (RF) current inputat various voltages to cut or coagulate biological tissue. The handpiecemay be a monopolar instrument with one electrode or a bipolar instrumentwith two electrodes. When using a monopolar instrument, a returnelectrode pad is attached to the patient and the high frequencyelectrical current flows from the generator, to the monopolarinstrument, through the patient to the patient return electrode pad, andback to the generator. Monopolar electrosurgery is commonly used due toits versatility and effectiveness. However, the excessive beat generatedwith monopolar electrosurgery can cause excessive tissue damage andnecrosis of the tissue because the return electrode positioned on theback of the patient causes high voltage and high RF energy to passthrough the patient.

In bipolar electrosurgery, active output and patient return functionsboth occur at the surgery site because both the active and returnelectrodes are contained in the bipolar instrument. Therefore, the pathof the electrical current is confined to the biological tissue locatedbetween the active and return electrodes. Although bipolarelectrosurgery enables the use of lower voltages and less energy thanmonopolar electrosurgery and thereby reduces or eliminates thelikelihood of tissue damage and sparking associated with monopolarelectrosurgery, it has limited ability to cut and coagulate largebleeding areas.

It is also common to use argon beam coagulators during electrosurgery.In argon beam coagulation (ABC), current is applied to tissue by adirected beam of ionized argon gas which causes a uniform and shallowcoagulation surface thereby stopping blood loss. However, argon beamenhanced cutting may also be performed using application of an ionizedargon gas.

At present, electrosurgery is often the best method for cutting andargon beam coagulation is often the best method for cessation ofbleeding during surgery. Surgeons typically need to switch between argonbeam coagulation and electrosurgery modes depending on what is happeningduring the surgery and what they need to achieve at a particular pointin the surgery such as cutting, or making incisions in tissue, orstopping the bleeding at the surgical site.

However, since surgical tools and devices currently available tosurgeons require switching between these two methods during the surgicalprocedure, there is a need for a surgical device or tool that enables asurgeon or user to utilize the best methods used for cutting andcessation of bleeding at the surgical site at the same time, orsimultaneously, in addition to being able to use them separately. Anelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability and anelectrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability that utilizes such anelectrosurgery blade assembly can provide a user or surgeon with safe,efficient, effective, and flexible ways to both cut and coagulate tissueduring electrosurgery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly having argon beam capability and an ultrapolar electrosurgerypencil with argon beam capability that are both capable of usingmonopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting and coagulation using artelectrosurgery blade. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblyhaving argon beam capability and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencilwith argon bean capability of the present invention are also bothcapable of using an ionized gas for cutting and coagulation therebyproviding a user or surgeon with a variety of ways to perform cuttingand/or coagulation of tissue during an operative procedure.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly having argon beam capability of the present invention includesa non-conductive blade having opposing planar sides, a narrow elongatedtop, a sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end; both anactive electrode or active contact and a return electrode or returncontact (note that the terms electrode and contact are usedinterchangeably throughout this specification) located on each of theopposing planar sides of the non-conductive blade, and a non-conductivehollow tubular member positioned over the narrow elongated top of thenon-conductive blade so that the non-conductive hollow tubular membercovers at least a portion of an active electrode/contact on one of theopposing planar sides of the non-conductive blade and at least a portionof a return electrode/contact on the other opposing planar side of thenon-conductive blade. This enables a gas supplied to the non-conductivehollow tubular member to be ionized as it comes into contact with theactive and return electrodes/contacts contained within thenon-conductive hollow tubular member thereby enabling both cutting andcoagulation of tissue without high voltage and high RF energy passingthrough the patient.

In another exemplary embodiment, a second non-conductive hollow tubularmember may also be included as part of the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly of the present invention by positioning it adjacent tothe previously described non-conductive hollow tubular member that ispositioned over at least a portion of both active and return contactslocated on opposite sides of the electrosurgery blade. In thisembodiment, the second non-conductive hollow tubular member may also bepositioned and fixed over the electrosurgery blade (but not necessarilypositioned over both active and return contacts on the electrosurgeryblade) and the previously described non-conductive hollow tubular membermay be supported in its position over at least a portion of the activeand return contacts of the electrosurgery blade by seating it on anon-conductive shelf support located on the electrosurgery blade. Thisenables the non-conductive hollow tubular member that is positioned overat least a portion of active and return contacts of the electrosurgeryblade to be changeable/replaceable. The non-conductive hollow tubularmember that is positioned over at least a portion of active and returncontacts of the electrosurgery blade may also be permanently attached tothe second non-conductive hollow tubular member and/or thenon-conductive shelf support. The non-conductive hollow tubular membermay include a slot which fits over at least a portion of theelectrosurgery blade and an opening located above the slot through whichan ionized gas can project after coming into contact with the active andreturn contacts of the electrosurgery blade contained within thenon-conductive hollow tubular member.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beamcapability of the present invention may also include a non-conductivesupport member connected to the non-conductive blade for retaining theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly within at electrosurgeryhandpiece. The non-conductive support member may also be attached to oneor both of the non-conductive hollow tubular members.

In still another exemplary embodiment, the ultrapolar electrosurgeryhandpiece having argon beam capability of the present invention includesa handpiece member having a first end and a second end, a non-conductiveblade positioned within the first end of the handpiece member where thenon-conductive blade includes opposing planar sides, a sharp cuttingend, and both an active contact and a return contact located on each ofthe opposing planar sides of the non-conductive blade, a non-conductivehollow tubular member positioned on the non-conductive blade so that itcovers at least a portion of an active contact on one opposing planarside of the non-conductive blade and at least a portion of a returncontact on the other opposing planar side of the non-conductive blade,and a non-conductive tube positioned within the handpiece member andconnected to the non-conductive hollow tubular member for supplying agas to the non-conductive hollow tubular member. The handpiece membercan include a channel for evacuating smoke and/or debris away from thesharp cutting end of the non-conductive blade and the ultrapolarelectrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability may also include arotating/swivel member connected to the second end of the handpiecemember.

The exemplary embodiments of the electrosurgery blade assembly withargon beam capability and the electrosurgery pencil with argon beamcapability of the present invention enable a user or surgeon to performcutting with the sharp non-conductive tip of the electrosurgery blade,cutting with the active and return electrodes contacts of theelectrosurgery blade, coagulating large areas of biological tissue byplacing the electrosurgery blade on either of its sides where bothactive and return electrodes/contacts are located, and cutting andcoagulating tissue using ionized gas that projects from thenon-conductive hollow tubular shaped member that is positioned overactive and return electrodes/contacts contained on the electrosurgeryblade. A particularly new and innovative feature of the electrosurgeryblade assembly with argon beam capability and the electrosurgery pencilwith argon beam capability of the present invention is the ability of auser or surgeon to simultaneously cut tissue with the sharpnon-conductive tip of the electrosurgery blade while coagulating tissueusing ionized gas that projects from the non-conductive hollow tubularshaped member that is positioned over active and returnelectrodes/contacts contained on the electrosurgery blade. Theelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability and theelectrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability of the presentinvention provide a user or surgeon with, safe, efficient, effective,and flexible ways to both cut and coagulate tissue duringelectrosurgery. The electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beamcapability and the electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability ofthe present invention are much safer for the patient than otherelectrosurgery instruments and methods due to the fact that high voltageand high RF energy do not need to pass through the patient duringelectrosurgery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anultrapolar electrosurgery blade that comprises part of an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability ofthe present invention shown without a first hollow non-conductivetubular member positioned over the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade andsupported by the shelf support (See FIGS. 6 and 7 to see first hollownon-conductive tubular member and seating of it on the shelf support);

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilitydepicted in FIG. 6 shown rotated 180 degrees without the first hollownon-conductive tubular member to show the active and returncontacts/electrodes located on the opposite side of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability shown in FIG. 6without the first non-conductive hollow tubular member;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability ofthe present invention showing how the first hollow non-conductivetubular member is positioned over the electrosurgery blade;

FIG. 7 is perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability of thepresent invention showing a side of the handpiece portion of theelectrosurgery pencil removed to show the interior of the electrosurgerypencil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly having argon beamcapability and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beamcapability of the present invention provide a user or surgeon with avariety of ways to perform cutting and/or coagulation of tissue duringan operative procedure using electrosurgery. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability and theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability are bothcapable of using monopolar energy in a bipolar mode for cutting andcoagulation using an electrosurgery blade and are both capable of usingan ionized gas for cutting and coagulation. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability of the presentinvention may also provide the evacuation of smoke and debris away fromthe surgical site while using the electrosurgery blade and/or ionizedgas for cutting and/or coagulation.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of anultrapolar electrosurgery blade that comprises part of an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability of the presentinvention. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 includes a non-conductiveblade 12 having opposing planar sides 14, a narrow elongated top 16, asharp cutting end 18 and an opposite non-cutting end (not shown due tothe partial view of the blade). Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 alsoincludes both an active electrode 20 and a return electrode 22 locatedon each of the opposing planar sides 14 of the non-conductive blade 12.Portions 24 of active electrode 20 and return electrode 22 that arelocated adjacent to the narrow elongated top 16 of non-conductive blade12 reside on a part of non-conductive blade 12 that projects outward anddownward from the narrow elongated top 16.

The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 may also include a non-conductiveshelf support 26 for supporting the non-conductive hollow tubular memberthat comprises part of the electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beamcapability later shown and described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. Atop plan view of the exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 shown in FIG. 1 is depicted in FIG. 2.

An exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability 30of the present invention showing how the first hollow non-conductivetubular member 32 is positioned over the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade10 is shown in FIG. 6. First non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 hasa slot 34 which fits over the narrow elongated top 16 of thenon-conductive blade 12 such that the non-conductive hollow tubularmember 32 covers at least a portion of an active electrode 20 on oneopposing planar side 14 of the non-conductive blade 12 and at least aportion of a return electrode 22 on the other opposing planar side 14 ofthe non-conductive blade 12. The non-conductive hollow tubular member 32further includes an opening 36 located above the slot 34 on each end ofthe non-conductive hollow tubular member 32. This enables a gas suppliedto the non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 to be ionized as itconies into contact with portions of the active and return electrodescontained within the non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 and theionized gas is then projected through the opening 36 of thenon-conductive hollow tubular member 32 that is located closest to thesharp cutting end 18 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10.

A second non-conductive hollow tubular member 38 may be positioned overthe narrow elongated top 16 of the non-conductive blade 12 adjacent tothe first non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 but does not cover anyportion of the active electrodes 20 and the return electrodes 22. Thefirst non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 can be seated on thenon-conductive shelf support 26 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 1and the first non-conductive hollow tubular member 32 may bechangeable/replaceable. Alternatively, the first non-conductive hollowtubular member 32 may be permanently attached to the secondnon-conductive hollow tubular member 38 and/or the non-conductive shelfsupport 26.

A partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability 30 of thepresent invention shown without the first hollow non-conductive tubularmember 32 positioned over the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10 isshown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a partial view of what is depicted in FIG. 6with a more close-up perspective view of the portion of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10 that is covered when the first non-conductivehollow tubular member 32 is positioned over the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 10. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exemplaryembodiment of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argonbeam capability depicted in FIG. 6 shown rotated 180 degrees without thefirst hollow non-conductive tubular member to show the active and returncontacts/electrodes located on the opposite side of the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the firstnon-conductive hollow tubular member 32 is seated over the narrowelongated top 16 of ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 10, the firstnon-conductive hollow tubular member 32 will cover a portion of returnelectrode/contact 22 on one opposing planar side 14 of non-conductiveblade 12 (See FIG. 6) and a portion of active electrode/contact 20 onthe other opposing planar side 14 of non-conductive blade 12 (See FIG.4). FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilityshown in FIG. 6 without the first non-conductive hollow tubular member.

The non-conductive blade 12 and the first non-conductive hollow tubularmember 32 may each comprise a ceramic material. The secondnon-conductive hollow tubular member 38 may also comprise a ceramicmaterial.

FIG. 7 is perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capability 40of the present invention. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly withargon beam capability 40 includes an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50,a first non-conductive hollow tubular member 70, and a secondnon-conductive hollow tubular member 80. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade50 includes a non-conductive blade 52 having opposing planar sides 54, anarrow elongated top 56, a sharp cutting end 58 and an oppositenon-cutting end 59. Ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50 also includesboth an active electrode 60 and a return electrode 62 located on each ofthe opposing planar sides 54 of the non-conductive blade 52. Portions ofactive electrode 60 and return electrode 62 that are located adjacent tothe narrow elongated top 56 of non-conductive blade 52 reside on a partof non-conductive blade 52 that projects outward and downward from thenarrow elongated top 56. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50 may alsoinclude a non-conductive shelf support 66 for supporting the firstnon-conductive hollow tubular member 70 that is positioned over theultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50. First non-conductive hollow tubularmember 70 has a slot 74 which fits over the narrow elongated top 56 ofthe non-conductive blade 52 such that the non-conductive hollow tubularmember 70 covers at least a portion of an active electrode 60 on oneopposing planar side 54 of the non-conductive blade and at least aportion of a return electrode 62 on the other opposing planar side 54 ofthe non-conductive blade 52. The first non-conductive hollow tubularmember 70 wither includes an opening 76 located above the slot 74 oneach end of the non-conductive hollow tubular member 70. This enables agas supplied to the non-conductive hollow tubular member 70 to beionized as it comes into contact with portions of the active and returnelectrodes contained within the non-conductive hollow tubular member 70and the ionized gas is then projected through the opening 76 of thenon-conductive hollow tubular member 70 that is located closest to thesharp cutting end 58 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50.

The second non-conductive hollow tubular member 80 may be positionedover the narrow elongated top 56 of the non-conductive blade 52 adjacentto the first non-conductive hollow tubular member 70 but does not coverany portion of the active electrodes 60 and the return electrodes 62.The first non-conductive hollow tubular member 70 can be seated on thenon-conductive shelf support 66 of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade50 and the first non-conductive hollow tubular member 70 may bechangeable/replaceable. Alternatively, the first non-conductive hollowtubular member 70 may be permanently attached to the secondnon-conductive hollow tubular member 80 and/or the non-conductive shelfsupport 66. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beamcapability 40 further includes a non-conductive support member 90connected to the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 50 for retaining theultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly with argon beam capabilitywithin an electrosurgery handpiece. The non-conductive support member 90may also be attached to one or both of the first and secondnon-conductive hollow tubular members 70, 80. In FIG. 7, thenon-conductive support member 90 is shown attached to the ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 50 and the second non-conductive hollow tubularmember 80. A non-conductive tube 95 is shown attached to secondnon-conductive hollow tubular member 80 to supply a gas to be ionizedwithin the first non-conductive hollow tubular member 70.

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability 100 of thepresent invention showing a side of the handpiece portion of theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil 100 removed to show the interior of theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil. The ultrapolar electrosurgeryhandpiece with argon beam capability 100 includes a handpiece member 102having a first end 104 and a second end 106 and an ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade 110 positioned within the first end 104 of thehandpiece member 102. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade 110 includes anon-conductive blade 112 having opposing planar sides 114, a narrowelongated top 116, and a sharp cutting end 118, and both an activecontact 120 and a return contact 122 located on each of the opposingplanar sides 114 of the non-conductive blade 112. A first non-conductivehollow tubular member 132 is positioned on the non-conductive blade 112so that it covers at least a portion of an active contact 120 on oneopposing planar side 114 of the non-conductive blade 112 and at least aportion of a return contact 122 on the other opposing planar side 114 ofthe non-conductive blade 112. The ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil withargon beam capability further includes a second non-conductive hollowtubular member 138 contained within the handpiece member 102 that isconnected to the first non-conductive hollow tubular member 132, and anon-conductive tube 140 positioned within the handpiece member 102 andconnected to the second non-conductive hollow tubular member 138 forsupplying a gas to the first and second non-conductive hollow tubularmembers 132, 138. Wires 142 connect active contact 120 and returncontact 122 to a circuit board 144 which is in turn connected to a powersource via a power cord 146. Selection buttons 148 on handpiece member102 are used to activate cutting and/or coagulation. The handpiecemember can include a channel 150 for evacuating smoke and/or debris awayfrom the sharp cutting end 118 of the non-conductive blade 112 and theultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability 100 may alsoinclude a rotating/swivel member 152 connected to the second end 106 ofthe handpiece member 102 to alleviate drag and kinking of the suctiontube when operating the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beamcapability 100 with a vacuum for smoke evacuation. Any of the previouslydiscussed embodiments of the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assemblywith argon beam capability may be used with the ultrapolarelectrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability of the presentinvention including an ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly thatonly has a first non-conductive hollow tubular member positioned overportions of active and return contacts located on opposite sides of theultrapolar electrosurgery blade.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the active andreturn electrodes/contacts as depicted in all of the drawing figures maybe reversed—i.e. the contacts shown as active contacts could be returncontacts and the contacts shown as return contacts could be activecontacts since both opposing planar sides of the non-conductiveelectrosurgery blade have both active and return contacts that mimic theconfiguration of one another. Reversing the types of electrodes/contactswould still result in the ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly withargon beam capability and the ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil withargon beam capability having the same functional features andadvantages. The terms “electrode” and “contact” are meant to be usedinterchangeably throughout the specification.

The above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention showsvarious exemplary embodiments of the invention. These exemplaryembodiments and modes are described and shown in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the disclosure is intended to teach boththe implementation of the exemplary embodiments and modes and anyequivalent modes or embodiments that are known or obvious to thosereasonably skilled in the art. Additionally, all included examples arenon-limiting illustrations of the exemplary embodiments and modes, whichsimilarly avail themselves to any equivalent modes or embodiments thatare known or obvious to those reasonably skilled in the art.

Other combinations and/or modifications of structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used inthe practice of the instant invention, in addition to those notspecifically recited, can be varied or otherwise particularly adapted tospecific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters,or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of theinstant invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure.

Unless specifically noted, it is the Applicant's intent that the wordsand phrases in the specification and the claims be given the commonlyaccepted generic meaning or an ordinary and accustomed meaning used bythose of ordinary skill in the applicable. In the instance where thesemeanings differ, the words and phrases in the specification and theclaims should be given the broadest possible, generic meaning. If anyother special meaning is intended for any word or phrase, thespecification will clearly state and define the special meaning.

1. An ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly comprising: anon-conductive blade having opposing planar sides, a narrow elongatedtop, a sharp cutting end, and an opposite non-cutting end; both anactive contact and a return contact located on each of the opposingplanar sides of the non-conductive blade; and a non-conductive hollowtubular member positioned over the narrow elongated top of thenon-conductive blade member such that the non-conductive hollow tubularmember covers at least a portion of an active contact on one opposingplanar side of the non-conductive blade and at least a portion of areturn contact on the other opposing planar side of the non-conductiveblade.
 2. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1wherein the narrow elongated top of the non-conductive blade separatesan active contact on one opposing planar side of the non-conductiveblade and a return contact on the other opposing side of thenon-conductive blade.
 3. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising a second non-conductive hollow tubular memberpositioned over the narrow elongated top of the non-conductive bladeadjacent to the non-conductive hollow tubular member.
 4. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 further comprising anon-conductive shelf support for supporting the non-conductive hollowtubular member when positioned over the narrow elongated top of thenon-conductive blade.
 5. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising a non-conductive support member connected tothe non-conductive blade for retaining the ultrapolar electrosurgeryblade assembly within an electrosurgery handpiece.
 6. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-conductivehollow tubular member comprises a ceramic.
 7. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-conductiveblade comprises a ceramic.
 8. The ultrapolar electrosurgery bladeassembly of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the active contact andthe return contact that are covered by the non-conductive hollow tubularmember project outward and downward from the narrow elongated top of thenon-conductive blade.
 9. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the non-conductive hollow tubular member includes a slotwhich fits over the narrow elongated top of the non-conductive blade.10. The ultrapolar electrosurgery blade assembly of claim 9 wherein thenon-conductive tubular member further includes an opening located abovethe slot on each end of the non-conductive tubular member.
 11. Anultrapolar electrosurgery pencil with argon beam capability comprising;a handpiece member having a first end and a second end; a non-conductiveblade positioned within the first end of the handpiece member whereinthe non-conductive blade includes opposing planar sides, a sharp cuttingend, and both an active contact and a return contact located on each ofthe opposing planar sides of the non-conductive blade; a non-conductivehollow tubular member positioned on said non-conductive blade such thatit covers at least a portion of an active contact on one opposing planarside of the non-conductive blade and at least a portion of a returncontact on the other opposing planar side of the non-conductive blade;and a non-conductive tube positioned within the handpiece member andconnected to the non-conductive hollow tubular member for supplying agas to the non-conductive hollow tubular member.
 12. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery pencil of claim 11 wherein the handpiece member includesa channel therein for evacuating at least one of smoke and debris awayfrom the sharp cutting end of the non-conductive blade.
 13. Theultrapolar electric surgery pencil of claim 12 further comprising arotating member connected to the second end of the handpiece member. 14.The ultrapolar electrosurgery pencil of claim 11 wherein thenon-conductive hollow tubular member includes a slot which fits over thenarrow elongated top of the non-conductive blade.
 15. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery pencil of claim 14 wherein the non-conductive tubularmember further includes an opening located above the slot on each end ofthe non-conductive tubular member.
 16. The ultrapolar electrosurgerypencil of claim 11 further comprising a second non-conductive hollowtubular member positioned between, and connected to, the non-conductivehollow tubular member and the non-conductive tube.
 17. The ultrapolarelectrosurgery blade of claim 16 wherein the hollow non-conductivetubular member is positioned outside of the first end of the handpiecemember.